Last Minute Changes / News

A slight autumnal feeling, but summer is not quite over yet: see Nature Blog 

Plans afoot for Scotland 2019 (see below).

Scotland 2019.....Achnasheen

The 2019 annual SWC Scottish trip will be to Glencarron near the small village of Achnasheen in Wester Ross on the western edge of the Highlands about an hour from Inverness. It will run from Saturday 25 May to Saturday 1 June 2019.  For more information, please contact goepfertkarenATyahooDOTcom.

Allelujuh! at Bridge Theatre

Today we are venturing out to the new addition of London's theatre land - Bridge Theatre, to see the brand new play written by Alan Bennett.

The Beth, an old fashioned cradle-to-grave hospital serving a town on the edge of the Pennines, is threatened with closure as part of an NHS efficiency drive. Meanwhile, a documentary crew eager to capture its fight for survival follows the daily struggle to find beds on the Dusty Springfield Geriatric Ward, and the triumphs of the old people’s choir (newest member: the Pudsey Nightingale). 

Alan Bennett’s new play is as sharp as The History Boys and as funny as The Lady in the Van.

Press reviews have been good: The Telegraph 4 stars, The Guardian 4 stars, Independent 4 stars

To book, please click here. Pre-theater F&B and meet up will be posted close to the time.

Evening walk

Boston Manor to Osterley
Distance: 6km

Meet 19:00 prompt outside the entrance hall of Boston Manor underground station.

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Prom 68 at Royal Albert Hall

The booking for this year's BBC Prom has just opened.  A group of walkers are going to four
Proms.  Today is the last in the series.  You can either book a ticket, click here or just prom on the day.  As usual, we will meet on the steps of Albert Memorial opposite RAH (weather permitting) from 6pm for pre-concert picnic.  Programme below

R. Strauss
Don Juan 18’

Death and Transfiguration 26’

Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 in A major 38’

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
                       

Posted on behalf of Jon G

Kings Sutton Circular

SWC Walk 176 - Kings Sutton Circular
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles). Toughness: 3/10

Catch the 9:43 from London Marylebone (changing at Banbury arr: 11:02 dep: 11:08) arrives Kings Sutton station 11:12. Direct return trains to Marylebone: 16:52, 18:49, 20:52, 22:21 else change at Banbury

An enjoyable walk courtesy of JB. Good news all the pubs are still open, here, here, here, here, here and here

Recent comment from an experienced and trusted walk checker for CW2
"Sun 29 Jul 18, 17:58
There are some great long views on this walk and much is out in the open across the large fields mentioned below, with less variety than for some walks. It's a shame therefore that the author did not point out some of the noteworthy features of the villages (apart from the pubs): churches in most of them have unusual features (e.g. medieval wall paintings in Croughton, spire and weird monument in Kings Sutton, tablets in Aynhoe), the fine Grammar School in Aynho, Anynho Park (grand 17th century house, Soane involved in design, gardens by Capability Brown) is private but one gets a very good view of the house from the road, handsome houses such as Souldern House and others.."

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Impromptu Promming - Prom 56 at the Royal Albert Hall

For those who would like to prom in the Gallery, tonight's Prom includes ...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• • • Piano Concerto No 21 in C major, K 467(29 mins)
  • • INTERVAL
  • • Anton Bruckner
    • Symphony No 5 in B flat major(75 mins)

• • • 
      
    • The Prom Starts at 7:30pm and you can find full details at https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/edq9hn

How to Prom in the Gallery

Get a queue number (raffle ticket) - you can pick one up from 9:00 am up to about 6:00 pm - the earlier the better.
You may often find the Steward handing these tickets out near Door 2 at the back of the RAH   - note only one ticket per person!


Alternatively it appears you may register with the RAH at https://tickets.royalalberthall.com/account/login and then book a gallery ticket from 9:00am to 12:00 on the day at  https://tickets.royalalberthall.com/booking/production/bestavailable/62918 - I  suspect you have to be ready to go at 9:00am

Join us for a pre-concert picnic on the steps of Albert Memorial opposite RAH (weather permitting) from 6pm or just afterwards for a pre-concert picnic and chat - bring a cushion if you wish..
Head back to door 2 for at about 6:45 pm make sure you have £6 in cash or a contactless card to pay. Make sure you have no glass or wine bottles in any bags you're carrying (they will be searched)
Climb the stairs and enjoy the Prom!

There's more information about promming at https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2018/day-promming/

Evening Walk: Brompton Cemetery Exploration followed by Thames Path to Hammersmith

Short 20: Brompton Cemetery Exploration followed by Thames Path to Hammersmith T=Short.20

Distance:          Approximately 5.5 miles or 9.0 km for those more metrically minded 

Difficulty:         1 out of 10

Meet:                West Brompton Tube Station (District Line) at 18:30, takes about 30 minutes from central London locations

Return:             Hammersmith Tube…till late (Pick your color – District, Piccadilly, Circle, Ham &City)

I have been eyeing this short walk for a spell….as I have always thought Brompton Cemetery would make an interesting spot for an evening walk….The route has not been done before as it is a bit short in original formulation, but I think we could explore an extension down to the Thames via Imperial Wharf and along the Thames Path to Hammersmith, passing along the way: the Hurlingham Club, Fulham Palace and various wharfs and new developments…a mixed bag I guess….

The Blue Anchor on the riverbank in Hammersmith looks a good spot for post walk refreshies and meal for those who wish….

More information about the route can be found here. As there are no instructions for this walk, I would suggest also printing out the map page from the OS Map tab with the alternate route highlighted. 

Wednesday Walk - Hassocks to Brighton - over the South Downs to the Seaside

SWC 50 - Hassocks to Brighton

Length: 22-5 km (14 miles).  Short walk ending in Falmer:  12 km (7.5 miles)
Toughness: 7 out of 10

London Victoria: 09-55 hrs    Brighton service     CJ 10-02 hrs    EC 10-11 hrs
Arrive Hassocks: 10-51 hrs

Return: Brighton to Victoria:  (non-Gatwick Express service)   03 and 33 mins past the hour

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Brighton


Leaving Hassocks you have a choice of routes to the South Downs. For shade you should take the route through Ditchling Village. If it is a nice day and not horribly hot then you might like to take the route via Clayton, to enjoy the lovely views from the South Downs Way ridge path.

Having climbed up onto the Downs you now drop down to the village of Stanmer, where you can stop for lunch at its Tea Rooms or at Stanmer House. Otherwise, you continue through the extensive grounds of the House then up and through the campus of Sussex University, to Falmer Village, for lunch at the non-pretentious, artisan Swan pub, which serves good old fashioned pub grub, good English ale and German Eurofizz. If you wish you can end your walk in Falmer - the railway station is below the Amex Stadium (home of Brighton and Hove Albion FC). There are three trains an hour to Brighton.

Continuing with the main walk you head for the village of Bevenden then up to Kemp Town Racecourse. You now walk the length of the racecourse, passing the grandstand on your right. You then take a path downhill through light woodland and before you have time to say "Robert is your father's brother" you find yourself close to the centre of Brighton. The walk through Brighton up to its railway station is a bit tedious (when you have done it many times before) but it becomes more bearable if you stop en route for tea at one of the cafes in the famous Bohemian Lanes.
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Walk directions here: L=swc.50

Tuesday Walk - [Peak District Trip] Kinder Scout Circuit from Edale

Length: 26.8 km (16.7 mi) [longer and shorter routes possible, see below.]

Ascent/Descent:  905m; Net Walking Time: 7 - 9 hours

Toughness:  10 out of 10 

                

From the West, take the 08.49 Sheffield train from Manchester Piccadilly (…various stations…, New Mills Central 09.17, Chinley 09.23), arriving Edale at 09.32.

From the East, take the 09.14 Manchester Piccadilly train from Sheffield (Dore & Totley 09.21, Grindleford 09.29, Hathersage 09.32, Bamford 09.36, Hope 09.40), arriving Edale at 09.47.

Return trains to London: 16.32, 17.34, 18.32, 19.32 (change at Sheffield, from 3 hours).

Return trains: xx.47 until 19.47, then 21.45 and 23.21 towards Manchester; 16.32, 17.34, 18.32, 19.32, 21.30 and 23.01 towards Sheffield.

“This is a circuit of the Kinder Scout moorland plateau in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District with minimal directions, readily accessible by public transport.

The route described is not a true circuit, as it takes a different route up from Edale than it takes down from the plateau back to Edale. Completists can either continue along the edge from Ringing Roger to the point where the morning ascent over Grindslow Knoll joins the edge and re-trace the route from there (adds 3.4 km), or they can ascend and descend along the Grindsbrook Clough to/from the same point on the edge, this involves light but prolonged scrambling and adds 5.1 km.

In the easterly part of Kinder Scout, the plateau’s width is only about 500m, so – even without a clear path – a shortcut across it is not too arduous a prospect in the right conditions and if a confident map and compass user. The only route with a clear and firm through path is shown on the route map (cuts 1.3 km).” 

Lunch: Picnic lunch.

Tea: The Old Nag's Head, The Rambler Inn.

                                                                                   

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files  click here. T=swc.304